AM I wrong to feel sorry for Raoul Moat, the crazed killer who took his own life last weekend in Rothbury?

I don’t excuse his crimes – which included murder and two attempted murders. But while he was unquestionably a bad lad, he had the right to expect more from society than an inglorious televised end.

Moat, remember, had only just been released from Durham prison after serving half of an 18-week sentence for assault.

Given that he was out on parole, it begs the question of what kind of assessment was carried out before he was allowed back into society – and how much supervision he was given on his return to the outside world.

Here was a man with deep psychological scars and a history of violence who was given licence to roam the streets with a gun and a grudge.

Once he’d embarked on his sickening orgy of violence, there was only ever one likely outcome – especially with the national media and 24 hour news whipping up a frenzied manhunt.

Cornered with no way out, he came to seem more like a frightened animal than a callous killer.

Although Moat’s case might be extreme, it certainly isn’t an isolated example.

Two out of every five offenders breaks the law within 12 months of leaving jail, making a mockery of claims that the system offers rehabilitation.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not soft on crime and I think it’s outrageous that cons can enjoy luxuries like satellite telly in their cells.

Nor am I opposed to long sentences for hardened thugs.

It’s surely no coincidence that during New Labour’s years in power, recorded crime dramatically fell, while the prison population almost doubled.

But assuming that we aren’t going to lock up every ne’e-do-well forever, we have to make sure that convicts come out as better people than they went in.

Most have serious problems. More than half of those behind bars are regular drugs users, while 80 per cent have a reading age below 11. Many, like Moat, need treatment as well as punishment.

Condemn him all you like for his crimes – but pity him, too, as the victim of our lethal neglect.